Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 7

THE
(Mic
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL.
VOL. III.
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 5TH, 1S80.
THE MAMMOUTH OPERA FESTIVAL.
FTER Mr. Thomas returned from Europe, rumor spread that he had
been snubbed by Richard Wagner ; this rumor was contradicted on the
A
plainest of all grounds, viz., that Thomas never had been near Wagner
No. 7
gross receipts can amount to; and we do not think it is intended to make the
festival a losing speculation. Moreover, it would take several months to
build the stage we speak of; and as the music hall will be in use this winter,
the stage arrangements can only be of a temporary nature. To perform on
this temporary stage, Boito's and Wagner's works, and call it a festival, is an
idea which we may admire, but whose feasability we cannot share. Of
course Mr. Nichols, the projector, will say now that he understands these
things better, that they may have these things very elaborately in Paris or
Vienna, but that they have their own views about them in Cincinnati.
Therein he is right; these views may be sanctioned in Cincinnati, and we
have the heartiest wish that Mr. Nichols may be crowned at the end of the
operatic festival with a laurel wreath in acknowledgment of his merits and
efforts on behalf of creating musical excitement in Porkopolis ; but, never-
theless, we may be permitted to call the whole scheme a huge humbug, per-
petrated on the community of Cincinnati under the shelter of an artistic
cloak.
during his sojourn in the old world. Then another argument was given,
that Wagner was vexed because Thomas had performed last winter, scenes
from the " Trilogy " without the permission of the author. We do not know
how much truth there is in all these contradictory reports, and have no wish to
fathom them ; biit we should think that if Richard Wagner could have list-
ened to the performances of " Siegfried" and the " Gotterdammerung," as
performed under the directions of Thomas and Dr. Damrosch, he would have
felt justly angry, and would with his irate temperament have shown his
anger, as soon as he saw either. To transport selections from the "Trilogy"
into concert halls may be sanctioned under certain circumstances ; we have
smaller works, like " Ride of the Valkyries," or, "Waldweben," or "Pro-
cession of the Gods," or the "Funeral March," which always will prove of
great interest. To give an entire act or the greater part of an act of the
"C'EST LE SON, QUI FAIT LA MUSIHUE!"
gigantic work in a concert hall must damage the reputation of the composer A STORY is told of a father whose son was studying at one of the German
in the eyes of those not thoroughly familar with the peculiarities of the _t\_ universities, that is, apparently studying, but actually spending his time
composer, and must appear a farce. And indeed it was a farce, in spite of all in beer-houses and fencing rooms. One morning the old gentleman, who was
what enthusiasts and fanatics may say in favor of these performances.
blind, received a telegram from his son, just when a visitor was at his room.
We do not wish to say that both these valuable and excellent conductors He asked him to read the telegram. The gentleman had a rough, deep bass
have not done their duty ; on the contrary, their share in the work is voice, and he read aloud to the anxious sire : "Father, send me money ! "
highly commendable; we only say, that in spite of the magnificent orchestral The parent was angry at the tone of the telegram, and refused point blank
work the whole thing appeared a farce, executed by one Italian artist, and a to do anything for his scapegrace son.
host of inferior singers, in several different languages, which nobody could
Some hours later, having grown calmer, he thought that his offspring
understand without the help of the libretto. Even with the best singers in ight need the money very badly. He wanted to hear the message once
the world the performances would have been a farce, for Wagner's works are more, and called in his daughter, a beautiful girl of 16.
written for the stage, and belong on the stage. His descriptive powers are
"My dear, said the father, William pent me a telegram this morning ;
great, but they loose entirely their effect if the ear alone catches the musical ill you please read it to me ? " The young girl, in sweet, bewitching tones
phrases, and the eye remains inactive. Richard Wagner is not only the sad : "Father, send me money."
greatest composer of the present day, but one of the greatest stage-managers
The governor smiled, was pleased with the politeness of his son, and for-
that has ever existed. He knows exactly what he wants, and in spite of hia arded the money by next mail.
attacks on Meyerbeer we find in him the same amount of rqffinenent, only
The French have a saying : " C'est le son, qui fait la musique," and they
to his own purposes.
re perfectly right. The tenor Ravelli scored a great success in London ; here
only pleased, nothing more. In England, sometimes, they have queer
That we cannot have the "Trilogy" performed on the American stage, at
least in the manner it should be given, is to be regretted; but to produce lotions, and they like to talk of revelations. Two years ago M. Candidus as
instead these farcical selections, which show the great performer and his Lohengrin, was a revelation, and a year later Mr. Schott, a German tenor,
deeds in an unsatisfactory form, is still more to be regretted, and we hope roved another revelation.
that we shall be spared another of these melodramatic expectorations this
Mr. Schott, as we know him—and Dr. Hans von Bulow can be called as a
season.
itness, sings occasionally out of tune ; and as they have had in London old
A certain class of musical caterers in this country have an idea that it is Susini and Mme. Sinico, even singing out of tune cannot be considered a
laudable to do unnatural things, which should be avoided in the interest of evelation there. But then as Mr. Schott's skillful horsemanship was some-
Art. Vanity is their ruling spirit; but it is much worse when unmusical peo- thing unusual for the London stage, the idea of the revelation comes nearer
ple meddle with matters they do not understand, as the result is always the mr understanding. The English are a sporting nation, and the horse in the
hird act of " Rienzi " helped to establish the success of the performance and
production of monstrosities.
The great Nichols in Cincinnati, since they kicked him out of the com- he rider.
We do not wish to rob the English of their revelations. We have some
mittee of the Musical Festival Association, (it is true, at his own request,
for he knew they would do it anyhow) has labored under the impression if the singers here who have proved a revelation in England, and when they
that he must do a great deed in order to defeat his enemies, and keep up his ame here, the taste of the English proved a revelation to us. Chacim a son
reputation among his townsmen. He must have worked very hard to rind /out; and it would be unfair to find fault with their taste.
the right thing, and suddenly it struck him that a mammoth operatic festi-
But revenons a uos moutons. Signor Ravelli created a certain excitement
val would be the very thing, which would make his name immortal, and n London, and we are sure that he would have done so here under the same
crush his adversaries. The College of Music, for the time being, is oi ircumstances. Fancelli sick, Campanini on the ocean, and Maas refusing to
secondary consideration. The mammoth festival takes the foremost place. sing without a rehearsal. Ravelli, utterly unknown, happened to be in
We should not wonder if we heard that old Max Maretzek gave the first hint, London, and sang Edgardo to the great satisfaction of the critics and the
and Nichols immediately took the bait, and came to New York to confer with audience. Tenors are so very rare that an unknown artist, who does his
Col. J. H. Mapleson. The English impresario most probably made terms work honestly, is a surprise. Ravelli made a success because nobody
to his advantage, for, as this season he is not guided and backed by Haverly expected anything from him, and he proved a reliable singer. We venture
through the country, he is very glad to rind local assistance in the different cities. ,o say that this tenor appeared in London under the most advantageous cir-
Cincinnati always has been a bad place for Italian opera, and Mapleson had iumstances. Had he been advertised for months, he probably would have
that experience twice; so a handsome offer from the great Nichols of college shared the fate of so many others, who sing yesterday and are forgotten to-
fame was very welcome.
day. What roused the expectations here were the reports from London,
The prospectus of the operatic festival, to be held in February next in which found their way into the columns of American newspapers. Ravelli
Cincinnati, tells us that " Metistofele," "Lohengrin," " Flauto Magico," was described as a great tenor; but such reports, even if they helped the
" Moses in Egypt," and " Fidelio," will be performed by the entire company subscription, could not be of advantage to the tenor. Whoever called Sig-
of Mapleson, an orchestra of 100 musicians, the chorus strengthened by 300 nor Ravelli a great tenor, committed a grave mistake. The artist sings in
voices of the festival chorus, all under the direction of Arditi, Otto Singer decent style, does not exaggerate, is a bad actor, and is a very good doublure
aud Maretzek. The prospectus is pompous, as these proclamations of Mr. for the first tenor, whoever that person may be.
Nichols generally are, and reads very nicely. But now, if we ask : "Where
We remember that some years ago Nilsson was announced as Lucia, but
is this festival going to take place?" we have the answer : "In the Music she fell sick, and Ostava Torriani, the same Torriani who is now Avith Max
Hall, which will be temporarily fitted up with scenery and a proscenium Strakosch, took the part at a moment's notice. The public at first felt dis-
As soon as we heard of the place in view for an operatic festival, we saw that appointed, because Torriani was unknown here, but in the course of the
the whole affair apart from its musical excellence, would be a huge humbug, evening this girl created a perfect furore, because she gave so much more
which it is harder to imagine more genuine and complete.
than anybody expected from her. Mile. Torriani's professional career ex-
Reason No. 1.—A concert-hall never will make a good opera-house, tends over a period of ten years, and we do not believe that she has ever
except the walls are torn down, and the existence of the concert-hall en- during all these years achieved the same success as on the evening when she
tirely destroyed, before the opera-house is built. Of course this cannot replaced Nilsson at our Academy of Music. Success cannot be defined ; it
be done in this special case, for the music hall will be of more use to Cin depends greatly on the caprice of the public, and not less upon the manner
in which our artist is introduced to this capricious public. Overrated artists,
cinnatti, than a monster opera-house.
Reason No. 2.—A stage on which " Lohengrin," or " Mefistofele" are t< who fall short of expectations, will disappoint, and turn out a comparative
be given in a style worthy of the name of a festival, must be a stage with all failure ; on the other hand, good artists, who are considered nobodies by the
modern improvements; and any stage carpenter in Munich, Vienna or Paris management, may acquire reputation and fame. The public is the highest
will make Mr. Nichols a calculation, which would astonish him. A stage ne tribunal, and a manager should never try to deceive it. " C'est le son, qui fait
pessary for the operas mentioned in the prospectus, would cost more than th< la musique.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
MUSICAL NOTES.
AT HOME.
November 5th, 1880.
THURSBY.—The Berlin correspondent of the London limes says : " A concert has
been given here by Miss Emma Thursby, an American vocalist of very high promise. A
very large and appreciative audience was present. The critics aver that further study and
experience only are necessary to justify the highest hopes of Miss Thursby."
Music HALL.—A new music hall at Waltham, Mass., was dedicated on Tuesday,
NEW OPERA HOUSE.—A Grand Opera House has been projected in Washington,
Oct. 19, by the Rive-King concert company.
D. C.
LORENTZ.—Miss Letitia Fritsch who has sung in opera in several of the principal
SCHULTZE.—Prof. E. A. Schultze, of the Southern Conservatory of Music, Atlanta, Ga.,
gave his first Soiree Musicale on Oct. 13, and with such success that a second entertain- German cities, made her American ddsbut on Saturday night in a concert at Standard Hall.
ment followed.on the 19th. Prof. Schultze, has the intention of making his conservatory a
SAALFIELD CONCERT.—It is announced that at the first concert of the iourth series
first class music school, and finds among Southerners a great deal of encouragement.
of Mr. Saalfield's concerts at Steinway Hall, Nov. 8, Mile. Beloccaand Signor Campanini
SOLDENE.—The Soldene Opera Comique Company, with Manager Jarvis, arrived will sing; Herr Joseffy will play for the first time in Steinway Hall; the New York Phil-
from Liverpool on the steamer Helvetia. The company will open at the Park theatre, harmonic Club, Miss Franko and Miss Giest will also appear.
Brooklyn, on the 8th of November.
SOLOISTS.—On Sunday evening last Mile. Helene Leroux, Mile. Jeanne Chastel,
ROOSEVELT.—It is an on dit that a number of Boston gentlemen are making arrange- Signor Stantini and Signor Castelli, the last three members of the De Montelio Company,
ments to co-operate with Miss Blanche Roosevelt in the production of Longfellow's sang at the Metropolitan Concert Hall.
" Mask of Pandora," and to the end that it shall be most fitly presented they propose to
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC.—The Brooklyn Philharmonic Society- will give two
secure the Boston Music Hall or some other suitable place.
public rehearsals in addition to the concerts during this season. The rehearsals will be at
intervals
of two weeks, the second being on the afternoon before the concert.
STRAKOSCH-HESS.—The Strakosch-Hess English Opera Company begin their sea-
son at the Globe theatre, Boston, on the 8th of November. Chief among the artists is
RiCHTER.—Mr. Richter, the violinist, who is to be a member of the company of
Mme. Marie Roze, who, in addition to appearing in " Ai'da," "Carmen," " Lohengrin," which Mrs. Julia Rive'-King is the principal artist, has arrived from St. Petersburg.
"Mignon," "Trovatore," " Les Huguenots " and " Faust," will create in America the
MATERNA.—It is reported that Mme. Materna, has received an offer to sing in New
role oi Margherita in " Mefistofele." Besides Mme. Roze are Miss Abbie Carrington,
Miss Laura Schirmer and Mile. Ostavia Torriani, soprani; Misses Sara Barton and Annan- York. As the name of the manager and the terms are unknown, the report just at pre-
dale, contralti; Messrs. Arthur Byron, A. Montegreffo, Charles Francis and Perugini, sent is discredited.
tenors; Messrs. William Carleton and Henry Bragan, baritones, and Messrs. George A.
CINCINNATI FESTIVAL.—A Cincinnati paper says: " I n the grand opera festival at
Conly and Henry Peakes, bassos.
Music Hall next February, Col. Mapleson will have the finest ballet corps ever seen in
BUFFALO MUSICAL UNION.—The officers of the recently formed Musical Union in this country. Mile. Cavalazzi will head the list."
Buffalo are as follows: President, Ernst Schultz; Vice-President, G. Duge; Secretary,
ROSEWALD.—Prof. J. H. Rosewald, concert master ot the Strakosch-Hess troupe,
Otto Auerbach; Financial Secretary, Chas. Kuhn; Treasurer, C. Duge, Sr.; Directors, arrived in this city a few days ago, to take part in the rehearsals, before the opening of the
Albert Poppenberg, Emil Wahle, Louis Plogsted, Anton Schuerer, Joe Rose, F. Kuhn, Sr. season.
SYMPHONY SOCIETY.—The first concert of the Symphony Society will take place on
MARCO.—Catterina Marco, daughter of the late Mark Smith, the actor, has left for
the 6th of November. The programme contains Beethoven's Overture "Egmont," Italy to look for an engagement there. In America her prospects were so sombre that
Brahm's First Symphony (C Minor), Liszt's Symphonic Poem, "Mazeppa," and two she can hardly expect less in Europe; so she acted wisely to take her chances there.
vocal selections by Mr. Henschel, the renowned baritone, viz.: Scene from Handel's
•' Alexander's Feast," and an aria from Weber's " Euryanthe." The Symphony Society's
ABROAD.
management have arranged for the production of " La Damnation de Faust," with the
following solo artists : Margherita, Mlle.Valleria; Mephisiopheles, Mr. George Henschel;
CONCERT TROUPE—Professor Leschititsky, Mdmes. Norman-Neruda and Stepanoff,
Faust, Mr. Frederick Harvey, and Brander, Mr. F. G. Bourne.
are engaged for the Philharmonic Concerts, Pesth. The series will commence in the
early part of November.
RABERG.—Mme. Franzisca Raberg, a handsome lady with excellent mezzo soprano
voice, has seceded from the Germania theatre, and made her appearance at the Thalia in
ESSIPOFF.—Mdme. Essipoff and Herr Auer, the violinist, are engaged for some of the
Suppe's " Boccaccio."
earlier concerts at Vienna. Mdme. Norman-Neruda will play at the Artists' Evening on
CHORUS REHEARSALS.—The new choruses of New York and Brooklyn have been the 13th November.
finally organized by Mr. Theodore Thomas, and are now in active practice, the New
BELLINI.—F. Florimo, Keeper of the Archives at the Conservatory, Naples, is
York section being under rehearsal at the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association. about to publish the correspondence of Bellini, and begs all who possess letters or other
documents written by that composer, to forward him the originals (of which he would take
COPLESTON.—Miss Florence Copleston will give three pianoforte recitals in Steinway great care, and which he would return) or copies of them.
Hall during this month. The first takes place on the 9th, when she will have the co-op-
NACHEZ.—Th. Nachez, a young Hungarian violinist, has been invited to play at the
peration of Mr. Franz Rummel and Mrs. Florence Rice-Knox ; the second will be held
on the 16th, and the third on the 23d, when Miss Copleston will be assisted by Herr Gewandhaus Concerts, Leipsic, and the Philharmonic Concerts, Hamburgh.
Joseffy.
BUELOW.—Hans von Buelow has been very active as a composer during the summer
LlBERATl.—Signor Liberati, the cornet soloist, has returned to this city after his long just past. He wrote, among other things, a Grand March and several choral songs.
engagement at the Chicago Exposition.
HESSLER.—Herr Hessler, director of the Strassburgh theatre, is sole applicant for
BOSTON HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY.—The Handel and Haydn Society of Bos- the management, which falls vacant in 1882, of the Stad-theatre, Leipsic.
ton will give the " Messiah " on December 26th, Mozart's Requiem Mass and Beethoven's
RUBINSTEIN.—The first performance of Anton Rubinstein's " Demon" at the Stadt-
•' Mount of Olives," January 30th, and Bach's "Passion Music " on Good Friday. An
theatre, Hamburg, was fixed for the 3rd November.
oratorio will also be given on Easter Day, but it has not been decided which it shall be.
SAINT-SAENS.—Saint-Saens, accompanied by Paul Viardot, violinist, has left Paris
CINCINNATI SYMPHONY CONCERTS.—It is proposed to give a series of five symphony
concerts in Cincinnati the coming winter, with an orchestra composed of resident for Madrid.
musicians, and with Michael Brand as conductor. All that is needed to insure the success
HOLSTEIN.—F. von Holstein's " Haideschacht" has been produced at the Stad-theatre,
of the undertaking is 700 subscribers at $5 each.
Hamburgh.
BRENTANO.—Morley's gavotte " Marquis et Marquise," which has been played
REGAN.—Anna Schimon-Regan, the Lieder-singer, will make a concert tour this year
frequently by the Thomas orchestra at the Metropolitan, has just been published for piano in Germany.
by Brentano.
MAUREL.—M. Maurel will sing the part of Hamlet at Pergola, Florence, with Dona-
ABBOTT AGENTS.—Charles Pratt and James W. Morrissey, agents of the Emma dio as Ophelia.
Abbott opera troupe, left New Orleans suddenly on the morning of October 23d, to avoid
CONCERTS POPULAIRES.—The 14th November is fixed for the resumption of the popu-
arrest on the suit of Evans, formerly manager of the Galveston Opera-house, charging the
breaking of a contract of last year. The suit was instituted in Galveston, and transferred lar Concerts, Lille. Massenet's oratorio, " La Vierge," will be performed under his own di-
to the District Court here to reach the defendants.
Papers were not served on Mr. rection on the opening night.
Wetherell and Miss Abbott in Galveston because the contracts of last year were made in
BoiTO.—Boi'to's " Mefistofele " will be ready for production at the Stadt-theatre,
the names of Pratt and Morrissey as managers.
Cologne, in the early part of December.
RIVARDE.—Achille Rivarde, a youth of 16, who gained the first prize at the
GABRIELLI.—Mdlle. Gabrielli is engaged at the Royal Opera-house, Berlin.
Paris Conservatoire for violin playing, is spending this winter in New York, with his
JAHN.—Jahn, of Wiesbaden, has accepted a permanent engagement as Capellmeister
father, the well-known singing teacher. He intends to give a concert here in the latter
at the Imperial Opera-house, Vienna.
part of the season, and will return to Europe in the spring.
CHAMBER Music.—Soirees of chamber music will be given this winter on alternate
Sunday evenings, at the private residence of Mr, C. B. Burrell, the amiable and favorite
manager of Chickering Hall. The performers are to be Mme. S. A. Rachau (piano), Dr.
Damainville (first violin), Dr. Lewenberg (second violin), Emil Gramm (viola), Martens
(cello). Mr. Speyer is the manager. The first soiree of the series took place on Sunday
last.
JOSEFFY.—Mr. Rafael Joseffy, coming from Toronto, fell sick, and had to remain in
Syracuse, N. Y., so that he was obliged to give up his engagement with' T. B. Pugh, in
Philadelphia, on Oct. 28.
COMBINATION.—Mr. August Wilhelmj has been engaged by Albert Weber for 100
concerts, to appear in conjunction with Mr. Constantine Sternberg, under the management
of Mr. C. H. Dittman. The tournee will begin on November 15th, and end on April 15th,
1881.
OPERA BOUFFE.—Before leaving for Havana, Mr. Maurice Grau completed arrange-
ments with Mr. Henry E. Abbey for the farewell appearance of his French Opera Com-
pany in New York at one of the latter manager's theatres—either the Park or Booth's.
The engagement is to commence March 28.
OUR OWN.—The Paris correspondent of the Herald has learned that Clara Louise
Kellogg has concluded a four months' engagement with the Grand Opera of St. Peters-
burg, opening on the night of Nov. 10.
HAUK.—Minnie Hauk has been engaged to sing "Carmen" and "Mignon" at
Nice.
UNION BOAT CLUB.—The Union Boat Club announce a grand concert at Chickering
Hall, in which the following artists will take part: Mme. Anna Granger-Dow, soprano;
Miss Florence Rice-Knox, contralto ; Mme. Teresa Carreno, pianist; Mr. J. Graff,
tenor ; Mr. Franz Remmertz, baritone ; Signor Liberati, cornet soloist.
HAMILTON.—Mr, W. H . Hamilton, the well-known baritone singer, made his first
appearance at the San Francisco Minstrels, on the evening of October 25th.
DONADIO.—" Dinorah," with Donadio as the heroine, has been given at the Liceo,
Barcelona.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.—A musical journal, entitled Le Do Mi Sol, has been started at
Verviers. A paper called the Neue Deutsche Musikerzeitung will be shortly started in
Berlin.
LESCHETISKY.—Theodore Leschetisky, husband of Madame Essipoft, has written a
comic opera, " The First Wrinkle," for the Wiesbaden Opera House.
IN MEMORIAM.—A bust of Offenbach is to be set up in the Theatre des Varieties,
Paris.
HILLER.—Dr. Ferdinand Hiller wrote a cantata on a libretto of Rittershaus for the
inauguration of Cologne Cathedral.
DINGELSTEDT.—Baron von Dingelstedt has resigned the direction of the Vienna
Opera-house, and has been succeeded by Kapellmeister Jahn.
BENEVOLENT.—Since 1868 Cruvelli, the once celebrated vocalist, has given at Nice
12 concerts for the benefit of the poor, and has netted $40,000.
RICHTER CONCERTS. The dates of the Richter concerts, London, have been altered.
The afternoon concert will be given May 19, and the evening concerts May 9, 16, 23, 30;
June 2, 13, 20, 23.
How is THIS ?—Mr. George Henschel is announced in St. James' Hall, London, on
November 20, to sing in Berlioz's " Damnation of Faust." And here in New York he is
advertized to sing on November 27 the part of Eliiah. There must be some mistake
somewhere.
LEIPSIC.—The Gewandhaus concerts began at Leipsic, October 7, when a violin
concerto by Goldmark, " not very original," was played by Herr Lauterbach, of Dresden.
DELIBES.—M. Delibes is finishing " L a Belle Laurette " of Offenbach.
WAGNER.—Wagner has been passing the month of October at Venice,

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